BCS Buster Showdown: Fiesta Bowl Preview/Prediction

It has finally happened: The two teams that were supposed to bust the BCS are going to meet each other in the Fiesta Bowl. The Boise State Broncos and the TCU Horned Frogs will meet to see who is the better BCS Buster. Who will win the honor of being Fiesta Bowl Champions? Read on and find out!

Why The Horned Frogs Will Win:

Dominating Defense: The Horned Frogs finished the season ranked first in the nation in total defense, where they allowed only 233 yards per game. The key to this defense is defensive end Jerry Hughes, who earned All-American status while racking up 11.5 sacks this season. The unstoppable force of Kellen Moore meeting the immovable objects of the TCU defense should be a great match-up to watch.

Full Recovery: The Horned Frogs got some good news this week. Strong safety Colin Jones and safety Tekerrian Cuba will be ready for the game after suffering sore hamstrings. This adds more weapons to an already potent defense, especially if Moore decides to throw. If they step up after coming back from injury and shut down the pass, and Hughes shuts down the run, this should be an easy victory for TCU.

Dalton the Destroyer: Quarterback Andy Dalton is the key to the Horned Frogs’ offense, racking up over 2,500 yards and 22 touchdown passes. He has also proven he can beat defenses with his feet, running for over 500 yards and three more scores. He is almost as poised as Moore, and still has one more year to play. He should be a force to be reckoned with in this game and next year too.

Why The Broncos Will Win:

Exacting Some Revenge: You can bet your bottom dollar that Boise State wants a little bit of revenge for the 17-16 loss given to them by the Horned Frogs in the Poinsettia Bowl last year. This time, the stakes are much higher, with the slim possibility of a No. 1 vote in the polls hanging in the balance. You can bet that with those stakes both teams will be playing extra hard, but Boise State, with that chance at sweet redemption, will be playing just a little bit harder.

High-Octane Offense: The Broncos have been on fire on offense after coach Chris Petersen challenged them to refine themselves at mid-season. Since then, they have been on a tear, scoring 40 points and winning by 30 or more in their last seven games. They are led by a frontrunner for next year’s Heisman in quarterback Kellen Moore, three scoring workhorses in wide receivers Titus Young and Austin Pettis and running back Doug Martin, and a 1,000-yard rusher in Jeremy Avery. The Horned Frogs will have a lot to take care of if they want to stop the Broncos.

Kellen The Conqueror: Quarterback Kellen Moore is one of the most efficient quarterbacks in the nation, throwing 39 touchdowns against only three interceptions. He seems to be poised and more collected than most NFL quarterbacks, even in the face of dominating defenses. He still needs a little work with his scrambling, but the way he throws the football, it doesn’t seem to matter.

Prediction: Boise State wins, 35-34. This is another case of unstoppable force (the Boise State offense) meeting immovable object (the TCU defense). The difference will be the motivation of the Broncos after the Poinsettia Bowl defeat. They’ll be fired up and ready to win.

So there you have it: The Broncos take the jump out of the Horned Frogs. Will this be the great game it’s being made out to be? You’ll have to watch to find out!